We Fight Monsters

My eight year old was named after this kid - (the Dylan in James Dylan Owen) - and we haven’t seen him since he was James’s age. He’s 18 now and hit me up on social media and asked if I’d mentor him. He’s turned into a DAMN fine young man. This kid saw me at my absolute worst, saw me have a heart attack, saw me on the wrong end of a 12ga, saw me zip tie a stab wound to stop the bleeding - but, he also saw me get between his mama and a 6'4" violent drunk woman beater a few times. Even in my madness, I had a heart to protect women and kids. I don’t know how he turned out as well rounded as he did, but I’m grateful - and I had a chance to make proper amends to him tonight

Going through clothes and found this shirt. This is where it all started. After walking up to Ben, a complete stranger at the time, to ask him about his ‘63 impala, I was later invited to a hot tub with he and his friend. Ben’s friend fully expected me to be one of “those” types of girls, and I’d end up naked and Ben would get lucky - I think Ben knew better, which is why he wanted to be around me. I did go, but I refused to wear a bathing suit, I wouldn’t even wear a bikini top. When I got out of that hot tub, Ben handed me his Pantera shirt and told me I had earned it. The fact he rewarded me for keeping myself morally intact was a breath of fresh air. And I loved Pantera, so that helped. We became inseparable after that. If I had known we would relapse together, lose 2 houses, 4 vehicles, 5 businesses, become homeless, and almost kill each other in the process…I think I would have just walked away that night. But God doesn’t show us all that, He allows us our free will and allows our lives to play out as we see fit. But best believe He’s there, every second, watching, teaching, letting us fall so we know how victorious it feels to climb back up better than we were before. Ben Owen, I love you and even though we almost died together to gain the lessons we live by today, I wouldn’t change a thing♥️

In 2017, Ben went "missing." A few days, and one death, later - Ben surfaced in a trap house (a house where narcotics and women are bought and sold) at 1192 Melrose Street in South Memphis' Soulsville community. This block was "ground zero" for our mission to take back Memphis streets and bring hope into some of the darkest and deadliest zip codes in America. We found a way to repurpose pieces of the floor from that hell house... These pizza peels are made with pieces of the century-old hardwood oak flooring from that house - which we shut down and acquired in 2023. By popular demand - here is the Pizza Peel! We had so many requests for this design that we had to simply add it as a separate product here on the site. Like everything else we make at Gangland Woodworks, these are crafted by the hands of once broken souls who made the choice to see value in themselves. Each one sold helps these people find purpose and peace in a life previously fraught with chaos. This piece is similar to the more traditional boards, but with extra care and hand tooling. With rasps and sanding blocks, each handle is shaped by hand by someone who has decided to reshape their own life. That is one of the more therapeutic elements to this work - the simple act of using one’s hands to mold the rough and sharp edged into smoothness and soothing touch reinforces the control these fine individuals have asserted against their demons. Constructed from a mixture of exotic accents and locally sourced hardwood handles, each one will be 12-13” wide and 27-28” in length (freedom units as always!) Once this flooring is gone, these will never be available again - own a piece of history from Memphis’ own Soulsville neighborhood and a house where he should have died. Grab one here - https://lnkd.in/evV_HQgE

Trap House Reclaimed Wood?!?! In 2017, Ben went "missing." A few days, and one death, later - he surfaced in a trap house (a house where narcotics and women are bought and sold) at 1192 Melrose Street in South Memphis' Soulsville community.  This block was "ground zero" for our mission to take back Memphis streets and bring hope into some of the darkest and deadliest zip codes in America. Underneath his hand is a piece of the floor from that hell house... These serving boards are made with pieces of the century-old hardwood oak flooring from that house - which we shut down and acquired in 2023. Serving boards are pretty handy - similar to a cutting board but designed for lighter duty and decoration and less maintenance! Use it to hold your keys by the front door, as a sharkcoochie board, or potted plant pedestal - the possibilities are endless. These are made from similar stock to our hardwood cutting boards, with the trap-house wood accents to add character. Roughly 18”x12”x1/2” (Freedom Fractions) Made by addicts in recovery, kids aged out of foster care, formerly homeless veterans, and one VERY resilient Afghan Christian girl who smuggled herself through fifteen countries to get to Memphis so we could put her through college - grab yours here before the trap house wood is gone - https://lnkd.in/e4SpcZzN ULTRA limited edition, when this wood is gone, it’s GONE. Forever. Own a piece of bloody history from the slaughterhouse itself….

In 2017, I went "missing." A few days, and one death, later - I surfaced in a trap house (a house where narcotics and women are bought and sold) at 1192 Melrose Street in South Memphis' Soulsville community.  This block was "ground zero" for our mission to take back Memphis streets and bring hope into some of the darkest and deadliest zip codes in America. Underneath my hand is a piece of the floor from that hell house... These serving boards are made with pieces of the century-old hardwood oak flooring from that house - which we shut down and acquired in 2023. Serving boards are pretty handy - similar to a cutting board but designed for lighter duty and decoration and less maintenance! Use it to hold your keys by the front door, as a carcoochie board, or potted plant pedestal - the possibilities are endless. These are made from similar stock to our hardwood cutting boards, with the trap-house wood accents to add character. Roughly 18”x12”x1/2” (Freedom Fractions) Made by addicts in recovery, kids aged out of foster care, formerly homeless veterans, and one VERY resilient Afghan Christian girl who smuggled herself through fifteen countries to get to Memphis so we could put her through college - grab yours here before the trap house wood is gone - https://lnkd.in/e4SpcZzN

Miracle Favors, a talented 6th grader who’s family is one we’re honored to serve, just made her middle school's cheerleading team and needs $630 for uniforms by September 6th. Every little bit helps her continue chasing her dream, so please consider donating or sharing the link below. Thanks so much! https://lnkd.in/eNkFHCw9

Gangland Cutting boards - made with a combination of exotic hardwoods and locally felled and milled Memphis hardwood - providing a job and purpose to Dalton, who aged out of foster care and found himself homeless trying to finish high school, and income for tuition to Arezo, a girl who fled Taliban controlled Afghanistan to finish her education after her family was targeted for her father’s service with our own Green Berets - y’all can be part of their journey by shopping here - https://lnkd.in/eVRY_FbF

Cutting boards can do a lot to change a life - https://lnkd.in/e_ZceyKq

On July 31st of 2023, we lost one of our volunteers to a fatal fentanyl overdose. Melissa had been clean for quite a while, got involved in a relationship with someone that ended up toxic, and she made a single decision that cost her her life. She left behind three beautiful kids, who are currently in the care of her mother - who has just been diagnosed with cancer. She's got a $5,000 out of pocket deductible that she's unable to make, and will need childcare and lost wages during recovery. We are aiming to raise $15,000 for her, and will continue this fundraiser to meet similar needs left behind by those lost to fentanyl, violence on the streets, or any other number of effects of the evils we fight. You can help right here - WeFightMonsters.org/mel Together, we can ensure little kids don't suffer the consequences of adult's bad decisions any more than they have to. Thank y'all!